As if the pressure of making his debut in the Kanga League, a prestigious club tournament in Mumbai, wasn't enough, Arjun Tendulkar - the son of Sachin Tendulkar, who'll soon be 14 - was sent in to open the batting for his foster club, the Young Parsees Cricket Club. It was a short innings. His only run came off a medium-pacer called Sachin before he was stumped. The posse of television cameras that arrived a few minutes late after wading through a labyrinth of matches at the Azad Maidan had already missed out.

On a day that Sachin Tendulkar would make an impassioned plea to let his son enjoy his cricket without undue pressure, this brief innings' analysis had already reached saturation level. "There were no nerves and he looked very good," Rajesh Sanil, the Young Parsees coach, said. "I asked the umpires as well and they too said that he looked confident."

When the cameras arrived and threatened to get close to Arjun Tendulkar, a portly man in a steel grey safari suit shooed them away. Another man in cricket whites was the only one Tendulkar was talking to, apart from his coach. The coach seemed to be discussing a few finer points with him, speaking in English in a tone reserved for peers. While the rest of his team-mates joked and egged their batsmen from the other side of the pavilion, Tendulkar quietly kept his gaze focused on the action, and only talked with the two men who were also shielding him from the cameras. At lunch, while the rest dug into the buffet, Tendulkar ate from his home-packed lunch box, in the company of his two friends.

The Young Parsees and the United Club of India were playing the first match of division G - the seventh, and lowest, division - of the Kanga League, an annual Mumbai fixture whose start was deferred to the first week of September to avoid monsoon-related disruptions. The top divisions usually feature Mumbai's Ranji cricketers who take to the field for early-season match practice. For Tendulkar, who was part of MCA's Under-14 squad last year but was not picked this year, Kanga League is being seen as an important step in his development.

A kilometre away from the hustle-bustle of Azad Maidan, the Oval, next to Churchgate station, hosted a number of League matches too. On one of the pitches on the south side of the ground, another young cricketer was inviting media attention. Mushir Khan, at eight, is the youngest player to feature in the Kanga League. He broke the record of his brother, Sarfaraz Khan - who recently broke into the India Under-19 team - by two years. Unlike Tendulkar, Mushir was embracing all the attention.

Mushir, captained by his father Naushad Khan, is in the team as a left-arm spinner, but batted at No. 5. He scored only 4, but he stuck around for almost an hour, helping his team, Sportsfield Cricket Club, recover from a bad start. He spent a few minutes posing for a local newspaper photographer before moving on to do a byte for a TV channel. The cameraman asked his reporter to sit level with the lens so that Mushir would look straight into the camera, but when the interviewer started, Mushir already knew what to do. He spoke uncluttered and confident Hindi.

"I feel very good to be a part of the league," he said. "My brother started at 10, and now I have done this at eight. It's the most difficult cricket I have ever played, but I did okay with the bat. The bowlers kept bowling fast at me, and I had some problems with the shorter deliveries, but I managed it okay. One problem with playing in this league is that the outfields are lush, so the ball doesn't travel. I am also learning from my father on how games are planned and saved."

Soon, Mushir, just like an eight-year-old, got distracted by a tablet computer. "Is that a big phone," he asked before flicking through the pages to identify his favourite gaming apps. "Do you have Subway Surfer? No? I like this Temple Run."

Back at Azad Maidan, the Young Parsees were busy with their fielding drills at the changeover. Tendulkar checked the wind direction with a dab of grass, then asked the captain about the end he should bowl from and started warming up. Soon, he opened the bowling.

His run-up was longish, and he bowled left-arm seam a bit gingerly, just like a 14-year-old would. Taller and leaner from what he was a year ago in the MCA Under-14 tournament, Tendulkar followed through a bit like Zaheer Khan and unlike any other bowler around, jogging halfway down the pitch. He had the opening batsman edge to second slip just before tea.

Tendulkar was on his own during tea while the rest of his team-mates dispersed for snacks or for light catching drills. When asked if this was the toughest cricket he has played, he nodded his head in disagreement, saying he had played in England before. He made a couple of calls to friends and family before cutting off the phone as the cameramen approached. "The press people are here," he said before being called back into the team huddle by his "friend" in whites, not by his team-mates.

At the Oval, Mushir had a good first day. He picked up three wickets with his slow loopy spin. He laughed and chatted with his team-mates as he walked back, clearly enjoying his big day out. "Kids of my age don't even last one ball against me. This is better," he said.

Naushad, Mushir's father, told ESPNcricinfo at the end of the day that he is not pressurising his son in search of fame. "You saw it was a tricky situation today. He came in and played 40-odd balls in a low-scoring match. I think he is ready and he enjoys it. The clubs have a lot at stake, so I won't push my son if I felt he wasn't going to contribute," he said.

Sachin Tendulkar was not seen at the Azad Maidan. Speaking at a felicitation by the Sports Journalists Association of Mumbai later in the day, he said, "My son has just played his first Kanga League game. And today, I am going to play a protective father. Even though my father was an author, not once was I asked in my childhood to follow in his footsteps. I would request everyone to treat Arjun as just another 14-year-old kid. I would request you to leave him alone and (let him) be himself."

I found this article interesting. The media has every right to follow Arjun Tendulkar in the public sphere. As long they dont publish photographs of him inside his house or do things like blocking his car from going somewhere, anything he does in the cricketing or any other celebrity field is fair game. If pressure were an issue, he could still choose some other profession. Being Tendulkar's son gives him a lot of privilege and access in the cricketing field and the pressure, attention that comes with it is the price to pay.

SevereCritic
on September 11, 2013, 22:48 GMT

I believe Bradman's son had to have his name changed to try to lead a normal life. Arjun, you should consider moving to the US. They don't care about cricket - and you can live your life in peace in USA.

Johnny_129
on September 11, 2013, 21:28 GMT

Looks like both Tendulkar and his son will be playing together in the Indian team soon!

YAYAVAR
on September 11, 2013, 20:32 GMT

Media will never follow the request of Sachin Tendulkar. For them it is the selling point! Tendulkar junior will flourish only if he is left alone and allowed to play his natural game. We all know too well about Rohan Gavaskar.

android_user
on September 10, 2013, 6:09 GMT

What's wrong with cricinfo? why such tabloid-style stories?

dummy4fb
on September 10, 2013, 5:54 GMT

Next Up- an IPL style league for the kids of Indian cricketers!!! Don't underestimate the power of marketing pundits. A league on the lines could be a reality soon. Jokes apart, it is tough being a celebrity kid. Poor chap he is not being allowed to enjoy the innocence of childhood. It must be painful for the father and mother. It is a pain that media too understood the pain.

Vasi-Koosi
on September 10, 2013, 3:37 GMT

The article is totally misplaced. Talk about cricket of the two youngsters, acceptable. Talk about their off field performance, like being aloof, having lunch from a box, not acceptable.
I would request the media to highlight the cricketing achievements of the two boys, without being obsessive about them. We talk about cricketers expressing themselves. Kids this age should be allowed to express themselves. The press can throng over a million kids, these kids have only one childhood. Don't spoil that for them.

dummy4fb
on September 10, 2013, 0:46 GMT

Why can't we leave these children alone? If they develop into into great (or even good) cricketers, it is fine. If they don't do it in cricket, but in some other sphere, that is also fine. If they do not do great things in any particular sphere, that is also fine; that should be the concern of the parents and their children. It should be NONE of our business.

dummy4fb
on September 9, 2013, 22:40 GMT

I don't know of many cricketing sons who done well other than Manjrekar. Rohan Gavaskar had a father as famous as Arjun and he was an average cricketer and could not even break into mumbai team.
Arjun seems to be biding his time like a star son going to an acting class, maybe he is under lot of pressure with everyone picking on him. At the same time he is also privileged compared to other kid in the story, where else can a 14 year old get advice from Zaheer Khan

dummy4fb
on September 13, 2013, 14:42 GMT

ain't happening guys, he's gonna be a flop, watch & see

ashok16
on September 12, 2013, 16:25 GMT

I found this article interesting. The media has every right to follow Arjun Tendulkar in the public sphere. As long they dont publish photographs of him inside his house or do things like blocking his car from going somewhere, anything he does in the cricketing or any other celebrity field is fair game. If pressure were an issue, he could still choose some other profession. Being Tendulkar's son gives him a lot of privilege and access in the cricketing field and the pressure, attention that comes with it is the price to pay.

SevereCritic
on September 11, 2013, 22:48 GMT

I believe Bradman's son had to have his name changed to try to lead a normal life. Arjun, you should consider moving to the US. They don't care about cricket - and you can live your life in peace in USA.

Johnny_129
on September 11, 2013, 21:28 GMT

Looks like both Tendulkar and his son will be playing together in the Indian team soon!

YAYAVAR
on September 11, 2013, 20:32 GMT

Media will never follow the request of Sachin Tendulkar. For them it is the selling point! Tendulkar junior will flourish only if he is left alone and allowed to play his natural game. We all know too well about Rohan Gavaskar.

android_user
on September 10, 2013, 6:09 GMT

What's wrong with cricinfo? why such tabloid-style stories?

dummy4fb
on September 10, 2013, 5:54 GMT

Next Up- an IPL style league for the kids of Indian cricketers!!! Don't underestimate the power of marketing pundits. A league on the lines could be a reality soon. Jokes apart, it is tough being a celebrity kid. Poor chap he is not being allowed to enjoy the innocence of childhood. It must be painful for the father and mother. It is a pain that media too understood the pain.

Vasi-Koosi
on September 10, 2013, 3:37 GMT

The article is totally misplaced. Talk about cricket of the two youngsters, acceptable. Talk about their off field performance, like being aloof, having lunch from a box, not acceptable.
I would request the media to highlight the cricketing achievements of the two boys, without being obsessive about them. We talk about cricketers expressing themselves. Kids this age should be allowed to express themselves. The press can throng over a million kids, these kids have only one childhood. Don't spoil that for them.

dummy4fb
on September 10, 2013, 0:46 GMT

Why can't we leave these children alone? If they develop into into great (or even good) cricketers, it is fine. If they don't do it in cricket, but in some other sphere, that is also fine. If they do not do great things in any particular sphere, that is also fine; that should be the concern of the parents and their children. It should be NONE of our business.

dummy4fb
on September 9, 2013, 22:40 GMT

I don't know of many cricketing sons who done well other than Manjrekar. Rohan Gavaskar had a father as famous as Arjun and he was an average cricketer and could not even break into mumbai team.
Arjun seems to be biding his time like a star son going to an acting class, maybe he is under lot of pressure with everyone picking on him. At the same time he is also privileged compared to other kid in the story, where else can a 14 year old get advice from Zaheer Khan

dummy4fb
on September 9, 2013, 16:31 GMT

Something is seriously wrong with both the people and media........Sachin is a great cricketer who has been playing cricket at the international level for well over 2 decades.....Arjun is just a 14 year old who has made his debut in the Kanga league......There is just too much attention on a 14 year old.....People are already talking about him being the next Sachin......thts just too much pressure......for once ppl should just let him be..if he becomes a great cricketer, tht would be a big boost.....but ppl should'nt just ve high expectations just because he is Sachin's son.....But i do sincerely hope and pray tht he becomes a great cricketer like his father......if possible even surpass his father....

Naresh28
on September 9, 2013, 14:13 GMT

Why not let these youngsters enjoy themselves instead of cameras and stories on them? They are still young and there is not much to write about them.

dummy4fb
on September 9, 2013, 11:30 GMT

So, even though Tendulkar Sr. asked the media to leave his son out of the spotlight, you wrote an in-depth article describing Tendulkar Jr.'s completely un-noteworthy innings

dummy4fb
on September 9, 2013, 11:03 GMT

Goooo Arjunn !! The name Tendulkar should stay on !!

BaluGoda
on September 9, 2013, 10:51 GMT

As mentioned, is father waiting for his son to take over his role ?

rudmila
on September 9, 2013, 9:52 GMT

No way man!! He will always be treated as Tendulkar's son by the fans, media and the pundits in this part of the world. Tendulkar's son is playing cricket, OMG!!

Harmony111
on September 9, 2013, 9:41 GMT

Sachin debuted when he was 16. Tendulkar Jr is 14. It would be magical if Sachin's last is his son's first so that the legacy is carried forward unbroken. A bit like Phantom.

777aditya
on September 9, 2013, 9:29 GMT

Rohan Gavaskar part deux!

ashok16
on September 12, 2013, 16:25 GMT

I found this article interesting. The media has every right to follow Arjun Tendulkar in the public sphere. As long they dont publish photographs of him inside his house or do things like blocking his car from going somewhere, anything he does in the cricketing or any other celebrity field is fair game. If pressure were an issue, he could still choose some other profession. Being Tendulkar's son gives him a lot of privilege and access in the cricketing field and the pressure, attention that comes with it is the price to pay.

777aditya
on September 9, 2013, 9:29 GMT

Rohan Gavaskar part deux!

Harmony111
on September 9, 2013, 9:41 GMT

Sachin debuted when he was 16. Tendulkar Jr is 14. It would be magical if Sachin's last is his son's first so that the legacy is carried forward unbroken. A bit like Phantom.

rudmila
on September 9, 2013, 9:52 GMT

No way man!! He will always be treated as Tendulkar's son by the fans, media and the pundits in this part of the world. Tendulkar's son is playing cricket, OMG!!

BaluGoda
on September 9, 2013, 10:51 GMT

As mentioned, is father waiting for his son to take over his role ?

dummy4fb
on September 9, 2013, 11:03 GMT

Goooo Arjunn !! The name Tendulkar should stay on !!

dummy4fb
on September 9, 2013, 11:30 GMT

So, even though Tendulkar Sr. asked the media to leave his son out of the spotlight, you wrote an in-depth article describing Tendulkar Jr.'s completely un-noteworthy innings

Naresh28
on September 9, 2013, 14:13 GMT

Why not let these youngsters enjoy themselves instead of cameras and stories on them? They are still young and there is not much to write about them.

dummy4fb
on September 9, 2013, 16:31 GMT

Something is seriously wrong with both the people and media........Sachin is a great cricketer who has been playing cricket at the international level for well over 2 decades.....Arjun is just a 14 year old who has made his debut in the Kanga league......There is just too much attention on a 14 year old.....People are already talking about him being the next Sachin......thts just too much pressure......for once ppl should just let him be..if he becomes a great cricketer, tht would be a big boost.....but ppl should'nt just ve high expectations just because he is Sachin's son.....But i do sincerely hope and pray tht he becomes a great cricketer like his father......if possible even surpass his father....

dummy4fb
on September 9, 2013, 22:40 GMT

I don't know of many cricketing sons who done well other than Manjrekar. Rohan Gavaskar had a father as famous as Arjun and he was an average cricketer and could not even break into mumbai team.
Arjun seems to be biding his time like a star son going to an acting class, maybe he is under lot of pressure with everyone picking on him. At the same time he is also privileged compared to other kid in the story, where else can a 14 year old get advice from Zaheer Khan

dummy4fb
on September 10, 2013, 0:46 GMT

Why can't we leave these children alone? If they develop into into great (or even good) cricketers, it is fine. If they don't do it in cricket, but in some other sphere, that is also fine. If they do not do great things in any particular sphere, that is also fine; that should be the concern of the parents and their children. It should be NONE of our business.